Sin,—It is to be hoped that your remarks as to
the " nicking " of the Militia Garrison Artillery with the word " redundant" In your article last week you state that Mr. Arnold-Forster condemns the Garrison Artillery branch of the Militia because 70 per cent. of it is entirely supernumerary to any scheme of mobilisation. In the daily papers of Friday week the Secretary of State for War is reported to have said that seventy companies of Militia Garrison Artillery are "redundant" Whichever state- ment is correct, I maintain that it would be very unwise to reduce any Garrison Artillery unit, whether Militia or Volunteer.
The mounting of quick-firing ordnance, and the consequent reduction in numbers of the old muzzle-loading guns in our fortresses, has no doubt reduced the number of Garrison Artillery- men required to man the guns on mobilisation ; but it must be remembered that these mobilisation manning tables are theoretical, and that practically a great many more gunners would be required in the fortresses of the Empire than are actually shown to be necessary. I do not think I am wrong in saying that if the records of the annual gun practice of the Militia and Volunteer Artillery are compared with those of the Royal Garrison Artillery (Regulars), it will be found that the "redundant" units are not very inferior to the "Regulars " as regards shooting, if at all so.
No, Sir, what is really wanted is to improve the Militia and Volunteer Artillery in every way ; above all, to encourage Militia officers to acquire fresh knowledge of artillery matters by allow- ing them to be attached occasionally, at home and abroad, to the " Regulars," thereby gaining an insight into the method of work- ing ordnance and of " fighting " forts of different construction from those in which they are accustomed to work. Garrison Artillerymen, and more particularly the " specialists " in that branch, take a long time to train so as to enable the requisite "number of hits per gun per minute" to be obtained. Therefore I maintain that the Garrison Artillery branch of the Reserve Forces should not be reduced by one single man.
My only excuse for addressing you is that I take a great interest in, and have a high opinion of, both Militia and Volun- teer Artillerymen, and that I have had some experience of their value both at home and abroad during my thirty-six years service in the Army.
—I am, Sir, &c., A. A. SAUNDERS,
Colonel (Retired), Royal Artillery.
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